Izod Center could host show jumping again

.Stylish high-profile jumping competitions like the Longines Hong Kong Masters are the hallmark of EEM World's shows, which could include a competition at the Izod Center

For the first time since the National Horse Show left the Meadowlands after its 1995 edition, show jumping may be returning to the Izod Center.

Although official details have not yet been confirmed, the likely venue for the New York Masters would be the sports complex arena, with tentative dates of Oct. 3-6.

A U.S. Equestrian Federation official stated the show had applied for a license, which could come by the end of the month, but organizer EEM World is still working on a title sponsor and other considerations for the Western Hemisphere leg of its Grand Slam, which also includes events in Europe and Asia.

A representative of the Masters was at the Old Salem Horse Show in Westchester County, N.Y., last week talking to riders, who included Olympic team gold medalist Peter Wylde.

He was enthusiastic about the prospect of having a high-style U.S. show run by the organization that stages the Gucci Masters in Paris, set for December, and the Longines Hong Kong Masters that was held last winter, both of which offer $1 million in prize money and plenty of glitz.

"When a competition like the Masters comes to the U.S., this can only be helpful for all of us; riders, owners, sponsors, the public. It's great for our sport and great for our industry in the U.S.," said Wylde.

He felt generous prize money could be an inducement for foreign riders, even without FEI (international equestrian federation) recognition that would give them points for the organization's ranking list.

Wylde particularly liked the time frame in which it might be held, thinking it could attract foreign competitors and enable them to stay for awhile to participate in the North American Fall Indoor Circuit.

"Riders from Europe...can tie it in with the other big shows of the fall and it makes it more interesting for them when they make the effort and expense to come," said Wylde, who was based in Europe himself until the end of last year.

"When you come for two shows, it's problematic and cost-difficult, but if you add on a show like that, it makes it that much more interesting," he explained.

Chris Kappler, Wylde's 2004 Olympic teammate and president of the North American Riders Group, said the New York Masters could be "potentially a really exciting event that we really need in America. This event has NARG's full support...we need to continue to have highlight events throughout America that continue to grow and get bigger and this is the start of some of the bigger events that we need."

It was originally announced that the show would take place in the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. That didn't work out after the Masters was unable to get on the FEI calendar. An FEI spokeswoman said last week that was due to "a late date application." The Longines Global Champions Tour already had applied for similar dates for a show in Shanghai, China, and would not give the required permission for another 5-star competition to be held at the same time, even half a world away.

"You have to follow the rules, there has to be some order to things," said FEI Show
Jumping Committee Chairman John Madden when asked to comment about the situation.

FEI recognition is pending for the Shanghai show, as quarantine protocols are being worked on in an effort to enable riders from outside China to bring their horses home after the competition. However, that is no easy matter. The show first was slated to be held in 2012, but got canceled "due to China’s strict quarantine laws," according to a GCT release.

"We know from our own experience and know-how in Asia that there are serious quarantine issues. The Longines Hong Kong Masters is the first 5-star jumping event ever after the Olympic Games to be organized in Asia and for quarantine reasons, we had to do it close to the airport," stated Clara Martins of EEM

The 2008 Olympic equestrian events were held in Hong Kong, rather than Beijing, because of the quarantine situation. The only mainland Chinese show to which foreign competitors were able to come with their horses and then take them home was the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, but a 90-day quarantine was involved, despite the fact that those Games were being presented in a horse-free area of the country.

While China is a new frontier for equestrian sport, with the potential for enormous growth, it is still in its infancy there and the quarantine situation has to be solved for the country to become a regular destination for the best riders. At the moment, if such athletes are competing in continental China, they are on borrowed horses as they were for the Beijing Equestrian Masters (no connection with EEM), presented by Dashing Equestrian Cultural Co. and the German Aachener Reitturnier GmbH in the Beijing Bird's Nest Stadium during April.

ON THE RAIL -- There is a 21-day quarantine on premises in Morris County that house a horse who shared a trailer with another horse who tested positive for Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, the neurological form of the disease.

The Morris County horse is not sick, according to a spokeswoman for the state, who would not divulge where the horse is stabled.

The EHM horse is in New York state. Both animals were transported May 1 from the Camelot auction in Cranbury. There were 48 horses from 14 states that were run through the auction. State veterinarians in the affected locations have been notified.

In a note on Facebook, Monica Carper of Camelot said the barn there "is sprayed with bleach and Vircon (recommended by the state)... we recommend that you keep any new horse away from the rest of your herd for two to three weeks as a precaution."

EHM is caused by Equine Herpes Virus-1. EHV caused chaos on the Florida circuits this year, with the entire HITS facility in Ocala under quarantine at one point, and the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington was affected as well.

Most New Jersey shows have instituted biosecurity measures in the wake of the Florida situation...

Centenary College last week gave its Diamond Awards to recognize the service of honorees and their support of the Equine Studies Department. As part of the Equestrian Center Enhancement Project, the college launched the "Building on Equine Excellence" program in 2009 to seek support for the improvement of facilities at College’s Equestrian Center, including the purchase of a new truck, footing replacement in the small indoor arena and the replacement of footing in the outdoor arena.

Recognized on the "Night of Knights" that included a jousting demonstration were photographer Shelli Breidenbach, who has donated her work to equestrian causes; Jazz Johnson Merton, joint master of the Essex Foxhounds; trainer Robert Beck, who has donated horses to Centenary; Beval Saddlery Ltd., which has been a supporter of the college; Kathy Davidson, who donated a champion junior jumper to the program; the Clancy family, which donated three horses to the program; and Weatherbeeta, which employs five Centenary graduates.